Drive mechanism

ABSTRACT

A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of components arranged in a ring shape to move back and forth in a radial direction, the drive mechanism is disposed in an annular disk, each component has a shoulder, the drive mechanism includes: a circular body coaxial disposed on the annular disk; a drive wheel rotatably disposed coaxially with the circular body; a cam ring disposed coaxially with the drive wheel, having a diameter smaller than that of the drive wheel, and including at least one cam; a plurality of pushing elements provided for contacting the shoulder of the respective components and each having a driven portion abutted against the cam ring, so that the pushing elements are moved toward or away from the axis, and the pushing elements contact the shoulders to drive the components to move in the radial direction or in the direction of the axis.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drive mechanism for driving a plurality of components in longitudinal form to move in a radial direction.

Related Prior Art

A mechanism which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending members (for example, rods) which are arranged in a circular manner and capable of simultaneously moving radially can be used in various industrial fields, for example, the mechanism can transfer knitting needles arranged in a circular manner on a circular knitting machine to another workstation.

A tubular textile product, such as a sock, is woven in a circular knitting machine, and has two open ends, one end of which moves away from the knitting needles of the knitting machine and is sent to the toe stitching table for sewing. For example, the automatic mechanism described in EP 2377979 can be used to transfer a tubular textile product from a knitting machine to a toe stitching table.

As described in EP 2377979, after the sock knitting process is completed in the knitting machine, the loops in the last row are simultaneously and separately pulled away from the knitting needles by the cooperation of the transfer members and the strip members. In order to ensure this, the transfer members and the strip members are moved back and forth in the radial direction by means of the so-called gripping mechanisms.

One of the gripping mechanisms carries the transfer member, and the other gripping mechanism disposed below and aligned with the aforementioned gripping mechanism carries the strip member. Each mechanism has as many channels as the number of transfer members and the strip members and extending in a radial direction to carry these members.

Each of the transfer members and the strip members has a shoulder that extends upwardly from its body and is in contact with the pushing element of each gripping mechanism. Further, each of the transfer members and the strip members is coupled to a spring disposed at the other end away from the center of the gripping mechanism. Thus, when a force is applied to the pushing element, the transfer members and the strip members simultaneously move away from the center, and when the force is stopped, the transfer members and the strip members simultaneously approach to the center by the action of the spring.

Such a mechanism is described, for example, in EP 2250305, which presents pushers in the form of annular sectors arranged in a circular manner, and two pins in contact with each of the pushers. Each of the pins is in the form of a “pin-in-hole mechanism” which can be moved in a channel formed in the fixed plate and facing the center, and in another channel formed in a rotatable plate. When the rotatable plate rotates, each pin moves in the two ring seats and pushes the pushers out of the center (because the transfer members also contact the shoulder of the pushers, therefore also begin to move away from the center). When the rotatable plate rotates in the other direction of rotation, the spring returns to its original position, which is the position near the center.

EP 2250305 contains too many unnecessary components, each of pushers requires two pins, and the friction of the pins in the mechanism in the channels is increased due to the fact that each pin moves within and is in contact with the two channels, which causes the disadvantage of requiring extra strength and early wear of the components.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present invention is to provide a drive mechanism for driving a plurality of components in longitudinal form to move in a radial direction.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a mechanism used in a circular knitting machine for transferring loops.

To achieve the above objectives, a drive mechanism provided by the invention to drive a plurality of components which are in the longitudinal form and arranged in a ring shape to move back and forth in a radial direction, the drive mechanism is disposed in an annular disk having a plurality of guide channels for accommodating the components, each of the components has a shoulder, the drive mechanism comprises:

a circular body coaxial with and disposed on the annular disk;

a drive wheel rotatably disposed coaxially with the circular body;

a cam ring disposed coaxially with the drive wheel, having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the drive wheel, and including at least one cam;

a plurality of pushing elements provided for contacting the shoulders of the respective components, each of the pushing elements is substantially in the form of a circle segment and able to move towards or away from an axis around which the annular disk, the circular body, the drive wheel and the cam ring are coaxially arranged;

characterized in that: each of the pushing elements has a driven portion abutted against the at least one cam of the cam ring, so that the pushing elements are driven to move toward or away from the axis, the pushing elements are used to contact the shoulders to drive the components that are arranged in a ring shape to move in the radial direction or in the direction of the axis.

Preferably, a plurality of levers is disposed at positions corresponding to the pushing elements, and each have one end pivotally connected to the cam ring and another end connected to the drive wheel in a controllable manner, and a portion between the two ends of each of the levers is abutted against a corresponding one of the pushing elements.

Preferably, a plurality of second levers is disposed at positions corresponding to and spaced apart from the levers, and each of the second levers has one end pivotally connected to each of the drive members and another end pivotally coupled to the cam ring.

Preferably, there are two said cam rings, and there are more than two said driven portions.

Preferably, the cam ring further comprising a plurality of orientation slot, and each of the orientation slot is aligned with one said cam.

Preferably, the drive wheel is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced drive grooves for accommodating one end of the respective levers to control the levers to pivot.

Preferably, each of the pushing elements further includes a drive portion which comes into contact with the levers.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a representative isometric view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a representative isometric view of the circular inner area of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a representative exploded view of the second racket in the racket unit of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a representative exploded view of the first racket in the racket unit of the subject matter of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the invention showing that the pushing elements move toward a position near the center of the racket unit;

FIG. 6 us a top view of the invention showing that the pushing elements move away from the center of the racket unit;

FIG. 7 is a magnified top view showing the mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another magnified top view showing the mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is another magnified isometric view of the present invention having two levers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention relates in particular to a drive mechanism, and more particularly to an elongated member for holding/carrying loops of last row in a process for knitting a sock, the elongated member comprises a transfer member and a strip member.

Generally, when the knitting process of a sock is completed, the toes of the sock are not closed and the last loops on the toes remain on the needles of the knitting machine. In order to ensure the closing of the toes of the sock, it is necessary to pull the sock from the needles and transfer it to the racket unit. Such a transfer of loops, as described in EP 2 377 979, can be carried out by means of a transfer member carrying the loops and a strip member applying pressure to the loops from upward to downward and moving the loops forward.

Since the detailed description of the present invention relates in particular to the application in a knitting machine, the transfer members and the strip members which are in the longitudinal form and arranged in a radial direction are illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a racket unit 20 comprises a first racket 20A having transfer members and a second racket 20B having strip members and arranged in a coaxial manner with the first racket 20A.

The first and second rackets 20A, 20B each have a protruding portion extending from the annular body of the first and second rackets 20A, 20B, and then a connecting pin 211 is inserted through the protruding portions to connect the first and second rackets 20A, 20B to each other. Besides, the first and second rackets 20A, 20B can be moved together or moved independently away from each other.

Since the first and second rackets 20A, 20B are structurally identical (only the splayed parts to be described below have difference in forms), only the first racket 20A will be described herein, and the first racket 20A comprises a circular body 21 of the same shape as the first racket 20A.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the circular body 21 is substantially annular. An annular seat 213 is a stepped structure formed in an inner surface of the circular body 21, and a cam ring 24 disposed on the annular seat 213 and arranged in a coaxial manner with the annular seat 24.

A drive wheel 23 surrounds the cam ring 24, and the cam 24 has a diameter smaller than that of the drive wheel 23, so that there is a specific radial distance between the cam ring 24 and the drive wheel 23. The drive wheel 23 is coaxial with the circular body 21 and independently rotatable about a central axis.

A plurality of bearings 212 is disposed at angular intervals on the inner surface of the annular seat 213, and an outer surface of the drive wheel 23 contacts the surface of the bearings 212. A plurality of pushing elements 25 are disposed between the cam ring 24 and the drive wheel 23, and each of the pushing elements 25 is substantially in the form of a circle segment.

Each of the pushing elements 25 has a driven portion 251 on a side facing the cam ring 24, the cam ring 24 has a plurality of orientation slot 241 on a side facing the pushing elements 25, and the driven portions 251 are inserted into the orientation slot 241, so that when the driven portions 251 are driven away from the orientation slot 241, the pushing elements 25 can be moved away from the cam ring 24.

Preferably, an annular disk 22, the circular body 21, the drive wheel 23, and the cam ring 24 are coaxially arranged around an axis. The cam ring 24 has a plurality of cams 244 disposed at angular intervals, the cams 244 are adjacent to the orientation slot 241, and the driven portions 251 are abutted against the cams 244 to push the pushing elements 25 to move away from or close to the axis.

Each of the pushing elements 25 includes at least one pushing element pin 252 protruding out from an upper surface of the pushing element 25. In the present embodiment, each of the pushing elements 25 is pivotally provided with an L-shaped lever 26 which is pivotally connected to each of the pushing elements 25 via the pushing element pin 252. Finally, a first pin hole 264 is substantially formed at a central portion of each of the levers 26, whereby the levers 26 are assembled to the pushing element pins 252.

Each of the levers 26 has one end 261 rotatably coupled to the cam ring 24 by a cam-ring pin 242 inserted in a second pin hole 265 formed in the one end 261. Each of the levers 26 has a push portion 262 formed at another end opposite the second pin hole 265 and inserted into a corresponding one of drive grooves 231 of the drive wheel 23, and the drive grooves 231 extend outward from the center of the drive wheel 23. In this embodiment, the drive grooves 231 are formed in the drive wheel 23 in an angularly spaced manner. Each of the cam rings 24 also includes a cam-ring insert 243 that can be aligned with an alignment portion 272 of a cover 27 such that an interconnection can be formed therebetween.

An actuator 29 is disposed within a block extending from one end of the first racket 20A and can drive the drive wheel 23 to rotate about a center (of the drive wheel 23) via a drive unit 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the levers 26 starts to rotate together with the drive wheel 23, and each of the levers 26 rotates about the bolt member (ie, the cam-ring pin 242 serving as a rotation shaft) in the second pin hole 265. Each of the pushing elements 25 has an L-shaped drive portion 253, and the levers 26 drive the pushing elements 25 to rotate by pushing the upper edge of the drive portions 253. When the drive portion 253 and the driven portion 251 are integrally formed, the driven portion 251 is also pushed to rotate together. Each of the driven portions 251 has a protruding end, so that the projecting ends climb up the cams 244 when the driven portions 251 are pushed. Thus, each pushing element 25 rotates away from the axis such that the drive wheel 23 rotates (i.e., offsets) about another rotation shaft that is different from the aforementioned rotation shaft. Because an outer surface 254 of each pushing element 25 is in contact with at least one shoulder 41 of a plurality of transfer members 40, each pushing element 25 also moves away from the axis as the transfer members 40 move away from the axis.

The annular disk 22 and the cover 27 are disposed on two sides of the circular body 21, and the annular disk 22 is provided with annular-disk connecting holes 224 to be aligned and connected with a connecting unit, for example, the connecting unit can be bolts and connecting holes of the circular body 21. In a similar manner, the cover 27 is also provided with cover connecting holes 271 to be aligned and connected with a connecting unit, for example, the connecting unit can be bolts and connecting holes of the circular body 21. The annular disk 22 has a splayed part 221 which is provided with a plurality of guide channels 222 extending radially and a plurality of fins 223 formed between the guide channels 222 and extending radially.

The first racket 20A is provided with the plurality of transfer members 40 radially disposed in the guide channels 222. The transfer members 40 are generally L-shaped as described in EP 2250305. The transfer members 40 are inserted into the above-described guide channels 222 and each have the shoulder 41 which protrudes from the guide channels 222 to abut against the outer surface 254 of a corresponding one of the pushing elements 25. Pushing the pushing elements 25 to move can cause linear movement of the transfer members 40 within the guide channels 222, which ensures that the ends of the transfer members 40 are able to approach or move away from the axis of the first racket 20A.

Strip members 30 in the second racket 20B also operate in the same manner as the mechanism of the first racket 20A described above to move linearly within the guide channels 222 to make the ends of the strip members 30 approach or move away from the axis of the second racket 20B.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 9, which is different from the first embodiment in that drive members 25A are used in place of the pushing elements 25, and a second cam ring 24A replaces the cam ring 24. The drive members 25A each have a link-rod pin 263 and a second link-rod pin 263A, the levers 26 are located corresponding to the drive members 25A, and the one end 261 of each lever 26 is rotatably coupled to the second cam ring 24A. The levers 26 are respectively connected to the link-rod pins 263. This embodiment further includes a plurality of second levers 26A having one end pivotally connected to each of the drive members 25A through the second link-rod pins 263A. The second levers 26A are disposed at positions corresponding to and spaced apart from the levers 26, and each have another end 261A pivotally coupled to the second cam ring 24A to achieve the same effect as the previous embodiments.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of strip members or transfer members arranged in a ring shape to move back and forth in a radial direction, the drive mechanism being disposed in an annular disk having a plurality of guide channels for accommodating the strip members or transfer members, each of the strip members or transfer members having a shoulder, the drive mechanism comprising: a circular body coaxial with and disposed on the annular disk; a drive wheel rotatably disposed coaxially with the circular body; a cam ring disposed coaxially with the drive wheel, having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the drive wheel, and including at least one cam; a plurality of pushing elements provided for contacting the shoulders of the respective strip members or transfer members, each of the pushing elements being substantially in the form of a circle segment and able to move towards or away from an axis around which the annular disk, the circular body, the drive wheel and the cam ring are coaxially arranged; wherein each of the pushing elements has a driven portion abutted against the at least one cam of the cam ring, so that the pushing elements are driven to move toward or away from the axis, the pushing elements are used to contact the shoulders to drive the strip members or transfer members that are arranged in a ring shape to move in the radial direction or in the direction of the axis.
 2. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of levers disposed at positions corresponding to the pushing elements, and each have one end pivotally connected to the cam ring and another end connected to the drive wheel in a controllable manner, and a portion between the two ends of each of the levers is abutted against a corresponding one of the pushing elements.
 3. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of second levers disposed at positions corresponding to and spaced apart from the levers, and each of the second levers has one end pivotally connected to each of the pushing elements and another end pivotally coupled to the cam ring.
 4. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are more than two said cam rings, and there are more than two said driven portions.
 5. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam ring further comprising a plurality of orientation slot, and each of the orientation slot is aligned with one said cam.
 6. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the drive wheel is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced drive grooves for accommodating one end of the respective levers to control the levers to pivot.
 7. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the pushing elements further includes a drive portion which comes into contact with the levers.
 8. A drive mechanism for driving a plurality of strip members or transfer members which are in the longitudinal form arranged in a ring shape to move back and forth in a radial direction, the drive mechanism being disposed in an annular disk having a plurality of guide channels for accommodating the strip members or transfer members, each of the strip members or transfer members having a shoulder, the drive mechanism comprising: a circular body coaxial with and disposed on the annular disk; a drive wheel rotatably disposed coaxially with the circular body; a second cam ring disposed coaxially with the drive wheel, and having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the drive wheel; a plurality of drive members provided for contacting the shoulder of the respective strip members or transfer members, each of the drive members being substantially in the form of a circle segment and able to move towards or away from an axis around which the annular disk, the circular body, the drive wheel and the second cam ring are coaxially arranged; a plurality of levers arranged corresponding to the drive members, and each have one end pivotally connected to the second cam ring and another end connected to the drive wheel in a controllable manner, and a portion between the two ends of each of the levers is abutted against a corresponding one of the drive members. characterized in that: the drive members are driven to move toward or away from the axis, and the drive members are used to contact the shoulders to drive the strip members or transfer members to move in the radial direction or in the direction of the axis.
 9. The drive mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the drive members each have a link-rod pin and a second link-rod pin, the one end of each lever is rotatably coupled to the second cam ring, the levers are respectively connected to the link-rod pins, a plurality of second levers each have one end pivotally connected to each of the drive members through the second link-rod pins, the second levers are disposed at positions corresponding to and spaced apart from the levers, and each have another end pivotally coupled to the second cam ring. 